USA citizenship by investment, also known as the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, allows foreign investors to obtain permanent residency and eventual citizenship in the United States. However, to qualify for USA citizenship by investment, investors must meet specific requirements set forth by the program.
Eligible investment:
To qualify for the EB-5 program, investors must make a qualifying investment in a new commercial enterprise in the United States. The minimum investment amount required is $1.8 million, although it may be reduced to $900,000 if the investment is made in a targeted employment area (TEA), which is an area with high unemployment or rural designation. The investment must be made in the form of cash, equipment, inventory, property, or other tangible assets.
Job creation:
One of the primary objectives of the EB-5 program is to stimulate the U.S. economy and create jobs for U.S. workers. To meet the program requirements, investors must create or preserve a minimum of 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U.S. workers within two years of receiving conditional permanent residency. These jobs must be directly or indirectly created as a result of the investor’s investment in the new commercial enterprise.
Source of funds:
Investors are required to demonstrate that the funds used for the investment were obtained through lawful means. This requires providing documentation and evidence to prove the source of funds, such as bank statements, tax returns, business records, and other financial documents. USCIS scrutinizes the source of funds to ensure compliance with anti-money laundering laws and to prevent fraud and illegal activities.
Active management or policy making role:
Investors must play an active role in managing or policymaking for the new commercial enterprise in which they invest. This may involve participating in the day-to-day operations, making strategic decisions, or serving on the board of directors. Passive investments, such as investments in publicly traded companies or real estate investment trusts (REITs), do not qualify for the EB-5 program.
Admissibility and background checks:
Investors and their family members must meet admissibility requirements to qualify for permanent residency and eventual citizenship. This includes undergoing background checks, medical examinations, and interviews to determine eligibility. Individuals with certain criminal convictions, immigration violations, or health conditions may be deemed inadmissible and ineligible for the EB-5 program.
